By Dean Larson

Photos: Seller, eBay

Stay safe out there, that’s the real takeaway here. Luckily it appears that no one was seriously hurt in this replica roadster, but it’s definitely a reminder that accidents happen. Offered here on eBay with a salvaged title, this Backdraft Cobra replica has us asking what’s next for this ruined roadster.

It’s tough to distill much history on this Backdraft, as the seller hasn’t provided any details and the car’s data tag doesn’t list a year or model. But what we do know, is that the Cobra covered less than 950 miles before meeting one or more stationary objects.

It’s a fool’s errand to guess what happened, but from the clues present, I’m going with a sudden loss in traction, followed by a tumultuous departure from the tarmac. A couple things point me in that direction, starting with the fact that the car is damaged in several areas and that both front tires are deflated. I’m no crash scene investigator, but that leads me to say that the Roadster lost control and left the road surface, possibly running over a curb or something in the process. Whatever brought the car to a halt (I’m going with trees), damaged the front clamshell extensively, along with the passenger door and the entire windshield.

From the photos, the Cobra doesn’t looked too trashed, but it’s a safe bet that there’s quite a bit of damage concealed by the bodywork. It’s going to take a front clamshell, a windshield, likely a door and some serious paint and bodywork to get the car on the road again. And that’s assuming there’s not any serious damage to the frame, suspension or mechanicals — some of which will take a specialist to diagnose.

There are some items in the plus column though, starting with the fact that this is a decently upscale machine with low miles on the clock. The engine bay looks fantastic, as does the interior, with the exception of a couple indents in the passenger seat.

A brand new Backdraft RT3 will run anywhere from $65,000 to $75,000, while secondhand cars ask around $50,000 to $60,000. So you could there’s potential here if the car can be bought and fixed for a reasonable price. All we know though, is that no one has bitten at the starting bid of $23,950.

Find the auction here on eBay.